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Cochin Club History |
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Cochins are claimed by many to have started selected poultry breeding and exhibitions. Quite simply they are and were different from any type of fowl previously known and subsequently have had a profound influence on many of the breeds that we know today. They have majestic form, large size, feathered legs, resonant voices and layers of brown eggs. All of these characteristics can still be seen today some 161 years later. Royal Links The East India Company lost its monopoly of trade with Asia in 1813 and sea captains looked for something different to stay in profit. Consequently when in 1843 Queen Victoria was presented with 5 pullets and 2 Cockerels called Shanghai. There was quite a stir in social circles. By 1846 birds from the Royal Aviaries were shown at the Royal Dublin Society's show where they were awarded the Gold Medal. This was the start of poultry exhibitions and breeding to standard. Having Royal patronage gave the breed and poultry keeping in general an enormous boost. Poultry mania quickly caught on and when one of the original importers (Sturgeon) held an auction 150 lots sold for £606. Soon after a cockerel was sold for £100. Imagine what this would be in today's money. |
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The Cochin Name When first seen in the UK there was considerable controversy. Originally called the Shangae or Shanghai. This soon became the Cochin China and then the Cochin by the early 1900's. Research has shown that there were no Chinese ports called Cochin. However there was a major shipping port in India called Cochin and it is thought that the breed may have come from Shanghai but been named Cochin from India. |
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Cochin Mania Shanghais were developed into Buff Cochins. These were seen in a range of shades varying from Silver buff to Cinnamon. The darker colour developed into the partridge or grouse. Surprisingly therefore the partridge colour was not the first variety of Cochin. The Cochin started the curious poultry mania of the late 19th Century and when it calmed down left the legacy of an enduring interest in poultry and poultry breeding. Consequently the Cochin has not only great historical influence on poultry keeping but the original birds were used widely when developing new and different breeds such as the Orpington. Until Cochin mania started in the mid 1800's few people kept chickens and there even fewer poultry exhibitions . This changed dramatically with the arrival of the Cochin. Cochins arrived like giants and conquered. The very distinctive deep crow of the males and the very aristocratic peaceful character has endeared many people to the breed. In fact once you have kept them you never forget them. Lewis Wright describes the breed in Wrights Book of Poultry, "Besides his own merits and grand proportions he is the father of the poultry fancy" Before 1900 the breed was famed for its utility character being a large meaty table bird and a good layer of dark brown eggs. Still today a cockerel will make a sizable table fowl, and the females continue to lay good brown eggs. However their production is lower than some other breeds, normally around 150-180 eggs per bird per year. The skin colour is yellow and the flesh firm and tasty. However contemporary Cochins have such a mass of feather and fluff you need to be prepared to produce quite a large pile of feathers before achieving a bird ready for the table. |
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Cochin Colours By 1870 there were three recognised colours the Buff, Partridge and White. Over the next 30 years Blacks, Blues and Cuckoos were developed. Today these 6 colours remain the standardised colours recognised by the Cochin Club and the standards committee of the Poultry Club. In Europe there are a range of other colours and every so often the club hears of other colours which so far have yet to be submitted for formal recognition. Our club President has been working for a number of years on Black Mottles and quite a few of our members now have this colour. Frizzles and gold cuckoo and gold and silver laced have also been seen but are not yet standardised. The first colours were Cinnamon and Buff, with partridge and Browns following shortly after. Then by 1870 whites too were being extensively shown. These originally occurred as sports from the partridge. Black Cochins were seen at the Crystal Palace
Exhibition in 1874 with cuckoos first appearing in 1878. |
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Traditionally the Birmingham show always had a stronger entry of birds than the London Crystal Palace. Is interesting to note that these two shows have now evolved into The National (was Crystal palace) and Stafford (was Birmingham) . The club show is now held at Stafford and there is a stronger entry of birds at this show. In the late 1980's and 1990's entries of over 100 could be expected. It is more common for the entries to be below 100 at either show. This does however compare quite favourably with entries seen in the late 1800s. By the end of the 19th Century Cochin mania had lost momentum and the £100 a bird prices stopped. Poultry breeding was just starting to develop commercially and although the Cochin was widely used to develop many new breeds it was acknowledged as a fancier's breed. Few commercial keepers had the time or patience to put in all the effort and hard work necessary to maintain the massive amount of plumage and feathered legs and to cope with the inherent breeding difficulties linked to such a mass of feather. The Cochin Club ( founded in 1902) The Cochin Club then as now worked diligently to promote the breed for both the exhibitor and the person who simply likes to have something aristocratic in the garden. After the Second World War there were few classes for Cochins but gradually during the late 1960s and 1970s the breed became more widely kept and then really burst back into life in the 1980s. The Cochin Club welcomes all who keep the breed. They are both friendly and aristocratic. Effort is not something that is inherent in a Cochin fowl. However they will reward your effort with quiet dignity and fluffy prettiness standing by the kitchen door or feed shed waiting to be fed. |
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Cochin
Exhibitions